Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Carmelite Saints, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Andrew Corsini, Feast Day Feb. 4

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St. Andrew Corsini

The feast day of St. Andrew Corsini is celebrated on Feb. 4.  St. Andrew Corsini is the patron saint against riots and disorder.

St. Andrew Corsini was one of twelve children. He was born in Florence, Italy on Nov. 30, 1302 to a powerful family. Although he lived a wild life, his mother influenced his conversion. He decided to become a Carmelite priest. In 1349 he was named Bishop of Fiesole. It was a position he resisted at first but served for twelve hears.  Pope Urban V sent him to Bologna to settle disputes between the nobles and common people. It was a successful mission.

Bishop Corsini served the poor with compassion. He preached love and harmony. As much as was possible he lived the life of a Carmelite. He was known for reforming the clergy, stressing the need for the priest to be educated properly. He also insisted that the priest reside in their parish. Many church buildings were restored by the Bishop including the cathedral.

St. Andrew Corsini died on Jan. 6, 1374. There were reports of many miracles of healing and conversion during his lifetime. He was canonized by Pope Urban VIII on April 29, 1629.

St. Andrew Corsini 2

Prayer is … a mine which is never exhausted …
It is the root, the fountain,
the mother of a thousand blessings.

Quote of St. John Chrysostom; Feast day September 13

 

February is the Month of the Passion of Our Lord

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Blaise, Feast Day Feb. 3

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St. Blaise 2

The feast day of St. Blaise is celebrated on Feb. 3.  He is the patron saint of throat maladies and wild animals.  The ceremonial blessing of the throats is credited to St. Blaise.

The actual birth date of St. Blaise is not known. He was born into a wealthy family in Sebastea, Armenia. It is believed Blaise was a physician who had also studied philosophy. Eventually, he became the Bishop of Sebastea, Armenia. He was known for his gift of healing. The most famous of these healings was the healing of a young boy who was choking on a fish bone. This led to the tradition of blessing of the throats on his feast day using two blessed candles pressed against the throat.

 

St. Blaise not only healed people, but he also healed wild animals. A pig, belonging to a poor woman, had been attacked by a wolf. After Blaise succeeded in healing the pig, he fled to the hills to avoid persecution. Eventually, he was found and captured. Sentenced to die for his faith, the woman whose pig he had cured came to visit him, bringing him two wax candles to dispel evil. He was eventually tortured and killed in the year 316.

 

When the blessing of St. Blaise is given, two candles are consecrated by a prayer. These candles are held in a crossed position by a priest over the throat of the person being blessed. The following blessing which is found in the official Book of Blessings is often then prayed:

 

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

St. Blaise 1
St. Blaise in Art P

 

 

Doing little things
with a strong desire
to please God
makes them really great.

Quote of St. Francis de Sales; Feast day January 24

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, Feast Days

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Presentation of the Lord, Feast Day Feb. 2

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The Presentation of the Lord

The Feast day of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on Feb. 2. It has been celebrated since the fourth century.

According to Jewish law parents were required to offer a sacrifice for their first male child forty days after his birth. Usually the sacrifice was a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. On the same day the mother would be ritually purified. The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were observing this requirement. Simeon was a devout and just man. When Jesus was presented in the temple, he embraced the child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon. (Luke 2:22).

After it was decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25, the Feast of the Presentation was celebrated on Feb. 2, which was 40 days later. It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and Candlemas.

Candlemas refers to the custom which arose of blessing candles on this feast day. The Canticle of Simeon is sung during a procession after the blessing occurs. This custom still occurs in some European countries.

The Canticle of Simeon

Now, Master, You can dismiss your servant in peace;

You have fulfilled Your word.

For my eyes have witnessed Your saving deed

displayed for all the peoples to see:

A revealing light to the Gentiles,

the glory of Your people Israel.

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Brigid of Ireland, Feast Day Feb. 1

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St. Brigid 1

The feast day of St. Brigid of Ireland will be celebrated on Feb. 1. She was born in 453 near Dumdalk, Loathe, Ireland. Her father had been kidnapped by Irish pirates (as St. Patrick was) and he was a slave to a druid. Brigid is believed to have been baptized by St. Patrick.  She is the patron saint of babies; blacksmiths; boatmen; cattle; chicken farmers; children whose parents are not married; children whose mothers are mistreated by the children’s fathers; dairymaids; dairy workers; fugitives; infants; Ireland;  midwives; milk maids; nuns; poets; poor; poultry farmers; printing presses; sailors; scholars; travelers; and  water-men.

From a very early age, Brigid showed a desire to pursue a religious life. She was known for her generosity and concern for the poor. Brigid’s mother was in charge of the Master’s dairy. Brigid tended to give the produce away to the poor. The dairy prospered in spite of her generosity. When she gave produce to the poor it tended to multiply! When she gave water to a thirsty stranger, the water turned to milk!

These are only two of the legendary miracles attributed to Brigid. Most of the miracles dealt with healing and domestic tasks. She was known for her holiness and generosity. The following quote by Brigid explains her spirituality:

“Christ dwells in every creature.”

Brigid refused to marry, choosing instead to serve Jesus only. Brigid founded a double monastery at Kildare. She was the Abbess of the convent which was the first convent in Ireland. She also founded a school of art at Kildare. The illuminated manuscripts became famous, especially the Book of Kildare.

St. Brigid 2
In art, Brigid is often depicted holding a reed cross made from the palm branches blessed on Palm Sunday. The cross is known as St. Brigid’s Cross. It is a symbol of peace. She often holds a lamp, which is called a lamp of learning and wisdom.

st-brigids-cross
The Mantle of St. Brigid is a small rectangular piece of cloth kept in a reliquary, which is made of wood with a glass covered opening for viewing. It is brought out for viewing on her feast day of Feb. 1. The mantle is dark crimson and is believed to represent the protection provided by the prayers of St. Brigid.
Devotion to Brigid can be found in the eighth century. Her relics are in the Church of Pierre de Vare in Stocking.
St. Brigid died of natural causes at the approximate age of 70 in Kildare, Ireland in 523.

The passion of Jesus
is a sea of sorrows,
but it is also an ocean of love.
Ask the Lord to teach you to fish in this ocean.
Dive into its depths.
No matter how deep you go,
you will never reach the bottom.

Quote of St. Paul of the Cross

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord